Top ten UK cities worst affected by hay fever revealed – is your area on the list?

Britons suffering badly from hay fever can find out which cities are worst affected – and where their location ranks on the list.

New data has revealed the places where people are suffering from hay fever the most and taking the top spot is Bolton, while Croydon in south London and Manchester then come in second and third respectively. And at the other end of the scale, Oxford was crowned the least allergy-prone city, with an average monthly search volume of 151 per 100,000 people, followed by Derby and Kingston upon Hull.

The research examined average monthly search volumes for a list of key terms related to hay fever – including but not limited to “antihistamine tablets” and “hay fever cough” – to determine the cities most likely to suffer of seasonal allergies. Bolton is the city most prone to hay fever, with a combined average monthly search volume of 1,507 per 100,000 people.

“Antihistamine” is the most popular term with 223 average monthly searches, followed by “cetirizine” and “pollen count”, according to the study by thermal imaging experts Tester.co.uk. Croydon comes second with an average monthly search volume of 1,301 per 100,000 people. “Loratadine” is the third most used term with 140 average monthly searches, after “cetirizine” and “antihistamine”.

In third place is Manchester; “pollen count” is the most searched term in the city, with an average of 201 monthly searches, followed by “antihistamine” and “hay fever”. And it has an average monthly search volume of 1,227 per 100,000 people. According to the study, Lincoln is the fourth most likely city to suffer from allergies, with an average of 1,217 monthly searches per 100,000 people. The third most searched term on Google in the city is “hay fever symptoms”, with 132 average monthly searches, after “pollen count” and after “antihistamine”.

Next, with 1,110 average monthly searches, is Peterborough. The second most searched term is the antihistamine “cetirizine”, with 135 average monthly searches; “Hay fever and ‘antihistamine’ symptoms come third and first, respectively.

Most hay fever-prone cities (searches per 100,000 people)

1. Bolton 1,507
2. Croydon 1,301
3. Manchester 1,227
4. Lincoln 1,217
5. Peterborough 1,110
6. Bathroom 1,067
7. Leeds 1,041
8. Bristol 1,033
9. Wakefield 1,028
10. Salford 1,006

In sixth place, the most searched term in Bath is ‘pollen count’, with 121 average monthly searches, after ‘cetirizine’ and ‘antihistamine’. The city, located in the west of England, has an average monthly search volume of 1,067 searches per 100,000.

Leeds is the seventh most likely city to suffer from allergies. According to the study, the city averages 1,041 allergy-related searches per month per 100,000 people. “Hay fever” is the third most searched term on Google, with an average of 112 monthly searches, along with “cetirizine” and “antihistamine”.

In eighth place is Bristol, with 1,033 average monthly searches per 100,000 people. Wakefield follows in ninth place with 1,028 average monthly searches per 100,000 people and Salford in tenth place with 1,006 average monthly searches per 100,000 people, according to the study.

Meanwhile, the least allergy-prone city is Oxford. The city has an average monthly search volume of only 151 per 100,000 inhabitants; “pollen count” is the third most searched term on Google, with 27 average monthly searches, after “cetirizine” and “antihistamine”. Derby ranks second; “Loratadine” is the third most popular term, with 415 average monthly searches, after “cetirizine” and “antihistamine.” The city has an average monthly search volume of 159 per 100,000 inhabitants.

In third is Kingston upon Hull, with 197 average monthly searches per 100,000 people. Cardiff follows in fourth place with 206 average monthly searches per 100,000 people and Birkenhead in fifth place with 221 average monthly searches per 100,000 people.

Cities least prone to hay fever (searches per 100,000 people)

1. Oxford 151
2. Derby 159
3. Kingston upon Hull 197
4. Cardiff 206
5. 221 Birkenhead
6. Southend-on-Sea 226
7. Nottingham 265
8. Poole 274
9. Awakening 280
10. Stoke 295

Barry Atkins, CEO of Tester.co.uk, commented on the study: “In the UK, 16 million people suffer from hay fever, a seasonal allergy also known as allergic rhinitis. This study named Bolton, Croydon and Manchester as the cities most likely to suffer from allergies. With this month’s pollen bomb exacerbating the nation’s symptoms, here are expert tricks to reduce hay fever symptoms without taking antihistamines.

“It’s clear that people in these top ten cities should avoid foods high in histamines, which can worsen hay fever symptoms. These include, but are not limited to, cold cuts, bananas, citrus fruits, tomatoes, spinach, and more. In fact, alcohol is also high in histamines and can increase seasonal allergies, suggesting that people should refrain from drinking in the sun if symptoms persist.

“If symptoms continue, people can also eat certain foods to prevent hay fever. Hot peppers contain capsaicin, a compound that dilates the nasal passages and reduces some hay fever problems. Also, garlic is a superfood with decongestant and anti-inflammatory properties that prevent allergic reactions.

“Additionally, people can use two simple everyday household items to reduce the risk of hay fever. The first is petroleum jelly, which is great for more than just moisturizing chapped and chapped lips; Spreading Vaseline around your nostrils can trap pollen and reduce the risks of hell this summer. Second, sunglasses protect the eyes from grass pollen and other allergens. People can also wear wraparound sunglasses with side shields, providing maximum protection against allergies.

“Furthermore, it is essential to change upon entering the house. When you spend time outside, pollen can get on your clothes and turn indoor areas into a hay fever nightmare. A shower can further wash away pesky pollen collected throughout the day. Pets can also collect pollen in their fur, further exacerbating symptoms.”